Hydrangea plant named ‘Hortmafarfa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Hortmafarfa’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with strong and thick sturdy stems; freely flowering habit; large mophead-type inflorescences with double-type flower that are bright pink in color; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HORTMAFARFA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla,commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Hortmafarfa’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to create new potted Hydrangea plants withlarge showy inflorescences with numerous attractive double sterileflowers and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventors on Jun. 5, 2011 in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryselection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 08-021-04,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 08-022-02,not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in June, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands sinceAugust, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangeaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Hortmafarfa’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Hortmafarfa’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeaplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate        growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit with strong and thick sturdy stems.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large mophead-type inflorescences with double-type flower        that are bright pink in color.    -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have double-type flower whereas        plants of the female parent selection have single and        double-type flowers.    -   2. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are        darker pink in color than sterile flower sepals of plants of the        female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have double-type flower whereas        plants of the male parent selection have single-type flowers.    -   2. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are        lighter pink in color than sterile flower sepals of plants of        the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Hortdodapi’, not patented. Plants of the new Hydrangeadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Hortdodapi’ in sterile flower color assterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are lighter pink incolor than sterile flower sepals of plants of ‘Hortdodapi’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Hort 10-087-07’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,097.Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Hort10-087-07’ in sterile flower color as sterile flower sepals of plants ofthe new Hydrangea are lighter pink in color than sterile flower sepalsof plants of ‘Hort 10-087-07’. In addition, inflorescences of plants ofthe new Hydrangea have more sterile flowers than inflorescences ofplants of ‘Hort 10-087-07’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Hortmafarfa’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Hortmafarfa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the summer in 17-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C.and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 22° C. Plants of the newHydrangea were two years old when the photographs and description weretaken. Plants of the new Hydrangea are not typically treated withaluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hortmafarfa’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 08-021-04, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 08-022-02, not            patented-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four weeks at            temperatures about 15° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six weeks at            temperatures about 15° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 100 days            at temperatures about 15° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 140 days            at temperatures about 15° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; overall plant shape, globular; strong and sturdy            lateral branches; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth            habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 44.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 63.5 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit about 24 lateral            branches develop per plant; pinching will enhance branching.        -   Length.—About 23 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.        -   Aspect.—Varying from upright to about 50° from vertical.        -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.        -   Color.—When developing: Close to 144A. Developed: Close to            144A; at the internodes, strongly tinged with close to            N186C; when woody, close to 199A to 199C and N199D.        -   Lenticels.—None observed.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 10.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 7.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate, often moderately twisting.        -   Base.—Oblique to short attenuate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely serrate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth to slightly rugose, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth to moderately rugose,            glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B and 146C.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A;            venation, close to 146D. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to between 138B and 146B; venation, close to            146D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145A; at the base, slightly tinged with            close to N186C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy double-type sterile flowers and            small inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type            terminal panicles; panicles flattened globular in shape;            fertile flowers face mostly upright and sterile flowers face            upright to outwardly depending on their position in the            inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from late spring to            late summer in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about three days on            the plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers            last about six weeks on the plant, sterile flowers            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 30            fertile flowers per panicle and about 200 sterile flowers            per panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 15.9 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 17.7 cm.        -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About            4 mm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to 58C.        -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 cm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to 145C; distally,            close to 52C.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 2 cm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 1.3 mm.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1.3 cm.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About            three to seven in a single whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm.            Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate to narrowly            elliptic. Apex: Narrowly obtuse to bluntly acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 52C to 52D; towards the base, close            to 150D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 51D; towards            the base, close to 150D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 64D; color becoming closer to 144B fading towards the            apex to close to 144C with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 65A; color becoming closer to 145B with            development.        -   Petals, sterile flowers.—To date, petal development has not            been observed on sterile flowers of plants of the new            Hydrangea.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About            five in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About            0.75 mm. Shape: Obovate to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 144B tinged with close            to 59D; color does not change with development. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 144B tinged with            close to 59D; color does not change with development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About            eight to eleven in two whorls. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width:            About 7 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic.            Apex: Narrowly obtuse to bluntly acute. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 52C to 52D; towards the base, close            to 150D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 51D; towards            the base, close to 150D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 64D; with development, color becoming close to 144B and            distally, close to 144C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 65A; with development, color becoming closer to 145B.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly            upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            Close to 59D.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter:            About 1.25 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About            45° from peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Sparsely            pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 59D.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: To date,            stamen development has not been observed on fertile flowers            of plants of the new Hydrangea. Pistils: Pistil quantity per            flower: About three, occasionally two or four. Pistil            length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color:            Close to N155B. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color:            Close to 182D. Ovary color: Close to 147D.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: To date,            stamen development has not been observed on sterile flowers            of plants of the new Hydrangea. Pistils: Pistil quantity per            flower: About three, occasionally two. Pistil length: About            1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to            N155B. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to            182D. Ovary color: Close to 147D.        -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on            plants of the new Hydrangea.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production    conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be    resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from −20° C. to 35° C. and    are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Hortmafarfa’as illustrated and described.